Many Pros, Few Consto Early Jump To Pros

In the spring, Mike Miller and Donnell Harvey of the Florida Gators were one win away from accomplishing every college athlete's dream of winning a national championship.

As sophomore and freshman starters on one of college basketball's most-talented teams, they could have found themselves in the same position again in March. Yet, with the NBA enticing them, both elected to leave college early.

Miller and Harvey made themselves early entrants for Wednesday's draft, and many NBA executives say they shouldn't be blamed for the move. As Chris Wallace, the Boston Celtics' general manager, said, a player can't get much more exposure than a national championship game.

Wallace doesn't agree when early entrants, projected to be high first-round picks, are told to stay in school.

"For what?" Wallace asked. "Not too many people, when given their chance to better themselves economically and pursue themselves at the best level in their professions, would turn the opportunity down."

David Fredman, Utah's director of scouting, agrees with Wallace. He doesn't support the recent flood of 29 early entrants -- the third-highest total. Fredman doesn't blame the players.

"It's pretty hard for me to fault a kid because he wants to take the money while it's on the table,'' Fredman said. "Everyone wants to provide for their family. Who is going to say that this kid can't get hurt next season, or that his stock won't drop much like Felipe Lopez?"

Lopez was the top-rated high school player in 1994. Coming out of high school, Lopez received twice as much hype as this year's high school stars who have entered the draft -- Darius Miles and DeShawn Stevenson. Lopez backed it up with a successful freshman season at St. John's, where he averaged 17.8 points.

Even though he could have been a lottery pick after that season, Lopez stayed. And every year after that his statistics and stock fell. He was selected 24th in 1998 and comes off the bench for Vancouver.

"Felipe is a wonderful kid, but he cost himself a lot of money," Fredman said. "Also look at [Auburn's] Chris Porter. He cost himself a lot of money by staying in school for his senior year."

Porter, an All-American as a junior, was considered a sure lottery pick in last year's draft after leading his team to the Sweet 16 and a 29-4 record. As a junior, Porter averaged 16 points and 8.6 rebounds. After putting together a steady but unspectacular senior season, he averaged 14.6 points and 7.3 rebounds, and the hype surrounding him cooled.

Porter isn't considered a first-round prospect this year. He dropped off the prospect map, and Miller and Harvey don't want the same thing happening to them.

Scouts don't predict that Miller or Harvey will come into the league and be an immediate impact. Many say Miller can become a contributor.

Miller, a 6-foot-9, 211-pound small forward who averaged 13.3 points and shot close to 50 percent from the field in his two seasons, is said to have few flaws.

"Miller can do a lot of good things on the basketball court," said Gary Brokaw, Orlando's player personnel director. "He's got a feel for playing the game and that's something you can't teach."

NBA executives say he has more potential than Miller. Many predict that when Harvey puts a couple of pounds on his 6-8, 216-pound frame, he will be a Dennis Rodman-type rebounder. Harvey, who averaged 10.1 points and 6.9 rebounds, dominated the boards in the game he played at the Chicago pre-draft camp.

Since then, his stock has soared despite his limited offense.

"Harvey's offensive game is so limited right now, but what he's been able to accomplish so far on the court tells you something considering he's producing solely on strength and aggressiveness," said Rob Babcock, Minnesota's player personnel director.

Kim Hughes, player personnel director for the Denver Nuggets, said Harvey will need intense coaching.

"He's going to be a monster when he fills out and matures into a man," Hughes said.

Hughes also points out that an NBA team such as the Nuggets will have a lot more time to work on Harvey's development than a college program.

The NBA is a full-time job with long practices, an 82 game-regular season and more experienced teachers, Hughes said.

"Plus, you'd be playing and practicing against the world's best, and that's how you get better," he said. "What college kid could ask for anything more if he wanted to max out his potential."